National Nathusius' Pipistrelle Project
The National Nathusius Pipistrelle Project is resuming again in the 2023 season, in line with IUCN guidance on preventing human-to-bat transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19). A precautionary approach is essential until we have a better understanding of the risks to bats. For more information see our statement on COVID-19 and NBMP surveys.
Nathusius' pipistrelle is considered rare in the UK but may simply be under-recorded. It is often found at large waterbodies, particularly during its autumn migration period.
The National Nathusius' Pipistrelle Project was launched in 2014 with a grant from the People's Trust for Endangered Species, to improve our understanding of the ecology, current status and conservation threats for Nathusius' pipistrelles in Great Britain.
The aims of the project are to:
- Determine the resident and breeding status of Nathusius' pipistrelle in Great Britain.
- Determine the migratory origins of Nathusius' pipistrelles in Great Britain.
Survey methods
Briefly, the strategy of the NNPP is:
1. Identify hotspots of Nathusius' pipistrelle activity using acoustic bat detector surveys. Many Nathusius' pipistrelle hotspots have already been identified by BCT's earlier Nathusius' Pipistrelle Survey which ran from 2009-2014.
2. Using harp traps and acoustic lures in activity hotspots, trap individuals under licence and ascertain their breeding status, and, if an experienced bat ringer is part of the project team, ring each individual.
3. If females are captured in the pre-breeding period, undertake radio tracking to locate potential maternity roosts.
Survey documents
For those groups licensed to take part, please see the following documents which are valid for 2023.
1. NNPP IUCN Covid RA 2022 - (RA1) Country and region assessments of COVID to be completed for each survey
2. NNPP COVID RA checklist 2022 - (RA2) COVID related checklist for before, during and after a survey
3. NNPP H&S RA template 2022 - (RA3) Field survey health and safety risk assessment to be completed for each survey site
4. Safety Guidelines for Evening Field Work with Bats (NNPP) 2022 - Advice on considerations for safety in the field
5. Survey methods 2023 - containing updated methodology such as PPE and data collection
Please click here to download a zip file containing all the above documents (including word and pdf versions): download file
For those groups wishing to start acoustic data collection with the view to trap in future, we have produced acoustic survey tips for this purpose. Email Abby on batgroups@bats.org.uk to request this.
Take part
This project is open to all bat groups. Different aspects of the project can be undertaken depending on the experience and equipment available within the group. For further information please contact Abby Packham on batgroups@bats.org.uk.
Key results so far
Nathusius' pipistrelle captures April 2011 to October 2022 (plus some bat box and grounded bat records submitted to the project). At each site there may be records falling into more than one category but the symbol indicates the level to which breeding or potential breeding has been identified: breeding females (confirmed breeding that year) > juveniles (potentially born locally, though may have come from elsewhere) > other adult females (some had bred in the past but no evidence of breeding that year) > males only caught.
- Based on data received to date, from April 2011 to October 2022, there have been 2,761 Nathusius' pipistrelles records (including some recaptures of individuals). Twenty-three were currently breeding females, 471 were adult females who showed no evidence of breeding that year (101 had bred previously though whether at that particular site or even in the UK is not known), 1,924 were adult males, 305 were juveniles, and 38 didn't have the sex and/or age recorded.
- Work carried out by the University of Exeter on stable isotopes in the fur samples of Nathusius pipistrelles caught during this project suggests that these bats have a migratory origin further northeast than the UK, and that the Nathusius’ pipistrelles originated from more northerly latitudes than soprano pipistrelles.
- Maternity colonies have been discovered in Kent, Northumberland and on the Surrey/Greater London border.
- Ten long distant migratory records have been found: a bat ringed in North Somerset was rediscovered in Holland in December 2013; a bat ringed in Latvia was recaptured in East Sussex in October 2015; two bats ringed in Lithuania were recaptured in Kent in August and October 2016; and two bats ringed in Latvia turned up in Greater London in August and September 2017; a bat ringed in Latvia turned up in Essex in September 2017; a bat ringed in East Sussex was found in Belgium in September 2018; a bat ringed in Northumberland was found in Poland in May 2019; and a bat ringed in Greater London was found in Russia in August 2021. The minimum distances travelled are shown below.
Why are we running this project?
Migration patterns of Nathusius’ pipistrelle are relatively well known in mainland Europe but the movements of bats in and out of the UK and their migration routes and origins are not known. This project will provide the first attempt to understand the migratory activity of Nathusius’ pipistrelles in the UK through stable hydrogen isotope analysis and will contribute to the overall understanding of migration across its distribution.
Nathusius’ pipistrelle has been identified to be at high risk of mortality from wind turbines in Europe. Because Nathusius’ pipistrelle is a migratory species, wind turbines have the potential to impact upon bat populations at a range of geographical scales. This project will provide vital information on the migratory origins of Nathusius’ pipistrelles in the UK and allow us to assess the potential threat of wind turbines to bat populations both in the UK and beyond.
The recorded range expansion of Nathusius’ pipistrelle has been shown to be linked to climate change and future climate change is predicted to have further impact on this species’ distribution. Comprehensive information on the distribution and status of the species in the UK currently is therefore essential to determine a full understanding of the effects of future climate change and to take appropriate action to ensure the conservation of this species in the UK.
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